# Lesson 3 — The Radar Range Equation

<p class="block-synopsis">How received power falls off as <span class="math notranslate nohighlight">\(1/R^4\)</span>, what sets the maximum detection range, and why every term in the equation buys only fourth-root leverage over that range.</p>

<div class="block-toc">
  <a class="bt-card bt-reading" href="L03_RadarRangeEquation_Reading.html">
    <span class="bt-kind">Reading</span>
    <h4>The Radar Range Equation</h4>
    <p>Received-power derivation, the maximum-range form, the per-term cost table, and a worked S-band example.</p>
  </a>
  <a class="bt-card bt-flashcards" href="L03_Flashcards.html">
    <span class="bt-kind">Flashcards</span>
    <h4>Review deck</h4>
    <p>Key terms and relations from the lesson, in a self-test deck.</p>
  </a>
  <a class="bt-card bt-demo" href="L03_RangeEquationExplorer_Demo.html">
    <span class="bt-kind">Demo</span>
    <h4>Range Equation Explorer</h4>
    <p>Move each parameter and see <span class="math notranslate nohighlight">\(R_\text{max}\)</span> respond at one-quarter the dB change.</p>
  </a>
  <a class="bt-card" href="L03_Preflight.html">
    <span class="bt-kind">Pre-flight</span>
    <h4>Pre-flight quiz</h4>
    <p>Pre-class check, due before the lesson. Counts toward your IP grade.</p>
  </a>
</div>